Rise in skin cancer cases underscores importance of early detection using machine learning
Source: News Medical Life Science, September 2023
In a recent review published in the Life Journal, a group of authors reviewed image-processing techniques in machine learning (ML) for skin cancer detection using clinical images, evaluating their efficacy, available datasets, and challenges.
Background
Over recent decades, the incidence of skin cancer has surged, with melanoma diagnoses growing by 31% between 2012-2022 and accounting for 80% of related deaths. However, early detection can lead to survival rates as high as 99%, which drops to 30% if the disease metastasizes.
Pigmented skin lesions (PSLs), ranging from benign moles to malignant melanomas, are central to this concern. Dermoscopy, employing a magnifying lens, aids in diagnosing PSLs. Yet, non-specialists often rely on standard cameras, sending images for expert diagnosis—a method nearly as effective as in-person consultations.